‘Do we always get bread and an egg?’ Jackson said, leaning back in his seat, his plate already empty. We were still savouring ours. To make the food last longer, you ate as slow as you could. It was like a race, except the slowest won. We all knew that.

‘We get meat on Christmas.’ I said.

Jackson’s eyes seemed to light up. ‘Christmas?’ He enthused, now swaying on the chair.

I held a hand to his back to steady him and shook my head at the chair.

Jackson sat still during the rest of breakfast.

----------

‘Sorry.’ Jackson panicked, his eyes darting around the room.

‘It’s okay.’ I said, getting up. ‘We get hit while playing all the time.’ My voice wavered.

Lies

We weren’t allowed to get hurt. The guard had constantly reminded us about monthly government inspections. They wanted safe, healthy children. Not those that bled.

Jackson held onto my now bleeding hand, lost in thought. ‘We have to go.’ I said. It was time for bed.

Jackson nodded and kissed my hand where he had accidently kicked it when trying to show a trick he had just learnt. ‘Better now!’ He smiled. Smiling was not allowed. Neither was kissing.

I pulled my hand back and walked away.